I called Rick McIntrye for an update today on 253M (he's still up the Lamar River, maybe with a few Druids), but there was a more interesting story.

On Oct. 26 a number of Druids were at the pack's rendezvous site when suddenly two Mollies Pack wolves ran into their midst in attack. A black Druid was injured, and 302M now has a limp on his right hind leg, so he is probably the injured wolf. The Druids regrouped and chased the 2 Mollies Pack wolves, 378M and 379M, away.

Yesterday, there was an apparently friendly meeting of Druids 286F and 375F with 379M of Mollies, but then the new Druid male informally called the "New Black" showed up. The New Black attacked 379M (also a black wolf) once he realized 379 was not another Druid wolf with the females. Once 379 was attacked the females attacked him too (though without great vigor). The New Black chased 379 hard, and now 379M also has an injured right rear leg.  McIntyre said he thought Bob Landis got the short fight on video. Added 12-1. Here is the video!

After the fight, limping 379M joined his packmate 378M. Despite this near death experience at the teeth of the Druid New Black and the females, Druid 375F spent the rest of the day with the two Mollies Pack wolves.

My take is that things are still unsettled among the Druids and new wolves are trying to take advantage of the situation, but the New Black has proven his mettle. As for 378 and 379M, they can't seem to decide if they are Mollie's wolves or Slough Creek wolves. They may be looking for a pack of their own.

Nov. 2, 2004. 378M and 379M must have given up on the Druids. They were back in the Pelican Valley with Mollies Pack, and the pack had killed a bison.

Another news note. The Nez Perce Pack is missing. This seems to happen about every year -- they leave central Yellowstone and go on a long tour outside of the Park.  The last time it happened they showed up on the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole.